Gloucester approves new flood ordinance

GLOUCESTER – The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors has approved an updated floodplain management ordinance that includes the previous two-foot freeboard requirement and a new flood zone.

The plan is expected to save residents money on flood insurance policies.

"In general, this is a planning document. It is identifying what the county's goals and visions are to mitigate that flood risk," Garrey Curry, assistant county administrator for community development, told the board. "It's not binding but it should identify what your vision is and by using this vision you should then set policy in the future."

Gloucester is required to update its plan at least every five years to remain in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System. In addition, the update is required to reference FEMA's new flood maps, which go into effect later this year.

Curry said the rating system program provides flood insurance premium discounts. Gloucester was previously rated as a Class 7 community and residents received about a 15 percent discount on flood insurance.

Curry said that staff recommended the board approve similar construction requirements in the new 'Coastal A Zone" that are already required in the VE zone.

"These are additional requirements that would be placed on people in those areas," Curry said.

He said those requirements would give the county additional points in the rating system. Those points could upgrade the county to a Class 6 community and increase the insurance discount to 20 percent.

"The reality is that it is very costly to live along the shoreline and it's very costly to the flood insurance program to pay out all these premiums," Curry said. "I think it's not unreasonable to say moving forward these rates will continue to go up. Your control for your citizens on those rates is limited.… You can offer discounts to your citizens by taking some actions like this. This is a 5 percent swipe at those rates you can make incrementally."

A motion to remove the additional requirements in Coastal A Zone died 3-4.

The board voted 5-2 to pass the updated ordinance with the additional requirements.